Winter?

December 27, 2025 //
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I woke rather randomly, feeling cozy and warm and not at all inclined to get up. I got up and dressed and left the house quietly, because it was clear that I wasn’t going to go back to sleep. I’d already “slept in”, for some values of sleeping in; it was 15 minutes later than I commonly wake. I feel rested. It’s fine.

The car was frosted, sparkling under the street lights, and the car door opened with a crackle, and some resistance. The morning air was quite cold. This is only the second hard frost of the season, the last one being weeks ago. Between them, it’s been mild and rainy. I started the car, and waited for it to defrost enough to see, and to warm up the engine. It’s not ridiculously cold, just freezing. I found myself grateful for the warm layers I put on this morning, without thinking much about the weather – it just happened to be what I had laid out last night as “options”. I wasn’t really thinking about options as I dressed, and I just put things on piece by piece, until I was dressed. I’m warm and comfortable. Suits the colder morning.

The trailhead parking is empty. I arrive before daybreak. It’s a little warmer here. Although still cold, it’s not freezing. Gloves, scarf, hoodie over sweater, cane in hand – I’m as ready as I’m going to get, but the cold and darkness are unappealing, and the frosty trail running alongside the marsh pond is more hazardous than it appears in some spots, and likely to be slick with frosty fallen leaves. I decide to wait for daybreak, more light, and maybe a degree or two of additional warmth. I’m in no hurry, it’s Saturday. I can write from the warmth and shelter of the car, sparing myself the experience of writing from the trail with freezing hands. I somehow doubt I will find sitting at my halfway point at all appealing on this wintry morning.

I stretch and yawn, listening to the traffic pass on the nearby highway. There’s not much of that this morning, only enough to keep me aware that this is not wilderness, and I already knew that. 😆

The darkness begins to ease, ever so slightly. I see hints of almost blue sky beyond the clouds, above the eastern horizon. It’s not quite 07:00… I sit quietly considering the lengthening days, noting with some small measure of wonder that the change is already so obvious. I don’t honestly prefer to walk in the darkness, it just happens to be “convenient”, for some values of “convenience”. I’m looking forward to seeing the sun rise as I walk this trail. It won’t be long; Spring is on the way.

I breathe, exhale, and relax. Meditation first, walking after, this morning. I’m okay with that. I do find habits, routines, and practices very useful, but being fixated on sequences or timing can create needless anxiety any time I deviate from some pattern that developed over time. That’s not healthy nor ideally flexible, and the day-to-day variance in timing and the order in which I do things prevents me from becoming “stuck” or inflexible. Rather than fight it, I try to embrace it without being bothered by it. Change is. I’ve found tremendous value in accepting impermanence and practicing non-attachment. Another breath, another exhalation, another glance at the horizon.

I sit with my thoughts awhile, reflecting on who I have become over the years. We become what we practice. This is reliably true. If you don’t like some characteristic of who you are, it’s very likely to be entirely within your ability to change that, through your own actions and decisions, with practice. Are your behaviors what you want them to be? Are you “your best self”, living your best life? What will you change today to become more that person you most want to be? What qualities make a person of “good character”? Do you embody those characteristics? You could, with practice. It’s your journey – your path to choose. Choose wisely.

One winter morning

The way ahead is visible. The path is clear.  It’s time to begin again, I suppose. I wrap my scarf around me, button my cardigan, and pull on my knit hat. Every journey begins with a step, and it looks like a great day to practice being the person I most want to be.

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Categories Allegories, Anxiety, Brain Injury, breathe, Free Will, gratitude, Healthy Living, inspiration, joy, meditation, Metaphors, Mindfulness, Moments, Oregon Trails, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress, Practices, solo hiking, The Art of Being, winter, Words

Seasons, Cycles, Milestones

December 26, 2025 //
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Giftmas comes and goes. It was delightful. I sit with my thoughts for a little while, waiting for the sun, or perhaps for the rain to slow to a sprinkle. This particular Giftmas is one to remember fondly, for sure; it was lovely from the first sip of my morning coffee to the last quiet moment as I drifted off to sleep. “No notes.” I wouldn’t change a thing about the holiday this year, even if I could.

The delights of this particularly good Giftmas holiday reminded me how little it is about the money being spent. This is a holiday season of limited resources for many people (including us), and we kept our budgets pretty minimal for this gifting holiday. More went into shared experiences, and far less into individual gifts. That’s okay, too. It was a fantastic holiday. (I hope yours was, too.) It was enough, and felt incredibly warm and connected and satisfying. Joyful.

… And it’s on to the next one; New Year’s Eve and day are coming up next, and only days away. Different celebration, different meaning and different milestones to observe. This year, as with every year of my adulthood, I’ll take One Hour for myself, at some point during the day, and I’ll honor the holiday by taking down all the holiday decor and putting it away again for another year. I find that it symbolizes change and renewal beautifully. It’s my way.

The rain stops. It’s still dark, and my boots hit the pavement with an unexpected splash; I am parked in a slight low spot, and step directly into a puddle in the darkness. I shrug that off, hopping quickly to dry pavement without soaking my boots through. Wet feet make an uncomfortable walk. I take my time, appreciative that for the moment, my feet don’t hurt. (I’ve been dealing with a flare up of plantar fasciitis for a few days.)

I thought about the holidays from this in between moment, as I walked to my halfway point. Capella (I think) is bright in the night sky, visible in a break in the clouds. I marvel silently over the gifts that stand out most in my recollection, some of which are promises of future delight (an interesting spice blend in a really cute little tin comes to mind), and others that will provide lasting comfort and joyful recollection (ooh, fuzzy warm spa socks!). Coloring books. (Yep, I’m a grown woman and an artist of many years experience – I still manage to be thoroughly delighted by a selection of cute coloring books.) lol I feel fortunate to share the holiday with people who get that what matters most is something unrelated to money. It’s the connection, the warmth, the sharing, and the sentimental fun of it all, far more than anything to do with a pricetag, I think.

… For a moment I wonder about what the person who won the more than one billion dollar Powerball prize on Giftmas Eve may have felt, somewhere in Arkansas (definitely a life-changing amount of money)…

The clock keeps on ticking, the wheel keeps turning, as the seasons change, and each milestone in a single human life is reached, then recedes into memory. This journey is the destination. How many steps (and practices, and changes over time) went into getting to this moment, and this beautiful holiday? So many. You may not be where you want to be in your life, right now, but you can choose to walk a path that may get you there – no guarantees that once you reach one goal or another that you will still see that outcome as “what you want” once you have achieved it. We’re somewhat more complicated than that, and we tend to “move the goalposts” as we play the game. There’s no map. No user’s guide. You choose your path. You define what success looks like. You do the work. Your life, on your terms – if you choose to accept the responsibility.

I sit at my halfway point watching the stars overhead twinkling brightly. It barely feels like winter here at all. The atmospheric river that brought the rain also brought these very mild temperatures. Like most things, it’s not likely to last. Winter will bring its icy blast at some point, but for now I enjoy the mild morning. I breathe, exhale, and relax, and take a few minutes in the predawn stillness for meditation.

Daybreak comes, the sky begins to lighten, I begin again; this path isn’t going to walk itself!

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Categories Allegories, breathe, Free Will, gratitude, Healthy Living, inspiration, joy, Metaphors, Mindfulness, Moments, Oregon Trails, Perspective, Practices, Relationships, solo hiking, The Art of Being, Words

Joy and Wonder

December 25, 2025 //
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Merry Giftmas! 😁

What a beautiful morning to wake up to, plump stockings laid carefully on favorite seats, the tree lit and merrily keeping watch over the wrapped gifts, stacked to look plentiful in a season of limited resources. I even slept in! (Though I am still first to wake, somehow.)

… I don’t recall that I’ve ever slept in on Giftmas morning…

The rest of the house still sleeps. I put on soft holiday jazz, and make a cup of coffee. I look out on the morning…gray and rainy looking, here. I open the door and breathe the cool fresh air.

“…we wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy new year…” I smile listening to the music. An unhurried, relaxed Giftmas morning? Wow. It’s like a gift all its own.

Later, things will be busy with unwrapping gifts and sharing oohs and ahs of appreciation and delight, then, later still, family phone calls, brunch… and dishes. 😆 I’m not bitching; all the things we want most to enjoy require something of us in return. “You gotta pay for your thrills,” an old friend long ago used to tell me (and I miss you still, Trouble.). I know there are definitely verbs involved – and choices.

I sit with the quiet, joyful and content with the moment just as it is. I can begin again later.

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Categories breathe, gratitude, inspiration, joy, Love, meditation, Moments, Practices, Relationships, The Art of Being, winter, women, Words

What Looks Like a Path…

December 24, 2025 //
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…May be an obstacle. Sometimes it’s a matter of perspective and expectations.

I’m sitting quietly in my meditation/studio/office space, which also serves as my “anything specifically me” space, and has a comfortable couch well-suited to sleeping, napping, reading, and meditation along one wall, my work desk on the opposite wall filling the space from the door to the corner. I’ve got the lights dimmed. I’ve got noise-cancelling headsets on, set to “quiet”, and no music playing. Just quiet. All around me, little things my beloved Traveling Partner has made for me, built for me, done for me, suggested to me – that’s a lot of love in this small room. Even the “do not disturb” sign presently hanging from the door knob as a cautionary suggestion was made for me by my Traveling Partner.

…This afternoon, I am “enjoying” a rare hour home alone by “dealing with” my PTSD. Not what I had planned, for sure, but it is the set of circumstances in front of me. Maddening – and thus, I am soothing myself through the madness. So far, so good. (The solitude is helpful for me – well-timed – I am most successful at managing my symptoms and nudging myself back to a grounded emotional place if I am not also having to interact with other people.) The muffled quiet and the heavy embrace of the headphones feels comforting, like a boundary being respected. I breathe, exhale, and relax – well, I make the attempt. It’s going to take some practice. My shallow breathing, tight chest, and trembling begin to diminish a little at a time, breath by breath. Progress. I keep practicing. Meditation works pretty reliably for me.

(Before I begin writing, I split my display into two windows, and keep messages open in case someone needs to reach me, this only works because I’m in an environment where boundaries are generally respected with care. I’m not trying to be hurtful by stepping away, just taking care of myself.)

In 2013, a similar situation might have resulted in a major emotional meltdown, yelling, tears, hysterical rage, finishing with some sort of physical collapse, often followed by succumbing to illness and not being able to bounce back emotionally for days or weeks. I lacked emotional resilience (that’s putting it very gently!). My PTSD and my anxiety were out of control. I teetered on a precipice and got a lucky break when one more attempt at seeking therapy finally paid off in new tools, and real improvements. That’s not the point though, the point is – I’m still me. I’ve got some “issues”. I manage them better than I’ve ever done before, and it has been a worthy journey. Therapy, treatment, for some mental or emotional issues (or even for some physical ailments or injuries) isn’t going to be 100% a “cure”, or fix that fixes everything in some permanent way. Results vary. Years of trauma often don’t have a reliable permanent “fix”, at all; those experiences change the way we’re wired. For some people, that’s exceedingly hard to change for the better, in adulthood. We do become what we practice, though, and given better tools and more effective practices, it has been possible to get pretty fucking close to “fixed”, and that’s amazing. It’s also something I recognize as feeling like it “isn’t enough”, now and then, when I find myself fighting my demons in the darkness, again, or fall through some thinking hole when I’m fatigued beyond my capacity to reason, or get triggered by a circumstance (or someone dear to me who would never do me an intentional injury). That’s hard. It’s also only an emotion, and potentially unreliable. Today? Today I’m just dealing with my bullshit. I’m okay for most values of “okay”, just super irritable and doing my best not to let that reach beyond this room.

I breathe, exhale, and relax. I’m okay. Moments are fleeting. Perhaps the next will be much better, filled with joy and laughter and love? I’m open to that. It’s time to begin again.

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Categories anger, Anxiety, Brain Injury, breathe, Despair, forgiveness, Free Will, Frustration, gratitude, meditation, Metaphors, Moments, more than a little bit of bitching, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress, Practices, Relationships, The Art of Being, The Big 5, Words

Let It Blow (Over)

December 24, 2025 //
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Merry Giftmas, and I wish you each and all a lovely holiday, however you choose to spend it.

The season looks bright from this point of view 😁

Holidays can be merry and delightful, warm and connected, and they can also be fraught with conversational pitfalls, stress, and intense emotions. We’re each having our own experience, and a lot of those dear to us will join the festivities with all their baggage along as well. Let it go. Seriously – when you can, let small things stay small. Don’t start shit. Apologize freely, graciously, and without regard to whether something is “your fault”. Be gracious and welcoming, kind and helpful. Stay present and also aware that you are in the company of people dear to you (and if that’s not true, maybe go wherever it is true, instead, without drama or tears).

People are putting a lot into the season, it can wear folks down. Lift each other up. Laugh together. Refrain from criticizing decor, gift choices, careers, appearances… we’re all human beings, being human. It’s already a complicated journey without people being dicks about small details. Give yourself a break from negativity and pessimism and unachievable standards.

… Have a merry holiday by being merry. No kidding, it may be that easy. Practice.

Let it go, let it go, let it go. Tis the season. Choose your words with care. Act with love. Just about the best gift we can give our loved ones is a pleasant holiday. Seriously.

Where does this path lead?

I sit with my thoughts at the edge of this trail. It’s daybreak on Giftmas Eve. I am alone here, on this quiet somewhat drizzly mild morning. I breathe, exhale, and relax. I think about Giftmases past, and this one here, now. This one is a small family holiday, just three of us (me, my Traveling Partner, and the Anxious Adventurer, his son). Most of my adult Giftmas holidays have been small, often just my partner and myself. In each relationship, a small number of holidays were bigger, including more family or an assortment of family and friends. I sometimes wonder at that. Childhood Giftmas holidays were larger, almost always including visiting relatives from afar, grandparents dropping by with second and third rounds of gift unwrapping, and generally a series of fatiguing holiday parties. I don’t mind the small ones, myself. I enjoy the bigger ones too, though I don’t seek them out. I’ve even enjoyed a few Giftmas holidays alone.

Are you alone this Giftmas? If you are and you are feeling content and merry, I wish you the season’s greetings and much joy! If you are struggling with the solitude, I have this suggestion; venture out. Reach out to people with well wishes and holiday greetings. Have joyful conversations with strangers. Create the moment you seek!

Maybe you’re alone this year, and not looking for company but not ideally clear on the joy a solitary holiday can offer? I have this suggestion; treat yourself well. Have the tasty treats you most enjoy, yourself, without compromise or excuses. Listen to music you love. Watch movies you want to watch. Do things you personally enjoy. Definitely get yourself something for Giftmas – and yeah, make a beautiful moment of it, gift wrap and all. Why not? You deserve to be treated as well by the person in the mirror as you would treat your fondest friend and dearest family member! My solitary holidays have been uniquely beautiful and soul-nurturing moments in my life and I have enjoyed them greatly. I hope you enjoy yours.

… And if stressful shit blows up like a storm on the horizon? Let it blow over. Don’t take shit personally. Don’t become so invested in “being right” that you fall to be the person you most want to be. Let small shit stay small (and understand that it’s almost all small shit). When a loved one is managing to step on your last nerve, remind yourself all the many things about them that make them dear to you. Put your affection ahead of your aggravation. I know, it’s not always “easy” to do some of these things – but it’s usually possible. There are verbs involved, and choices. Choose wisely. What truly matters most?

Holiday merriment pro tip: do not kill anyone (or commit any acts of violence) this holiday season! Nothing that is likely to come up in the average holiday conversation is going to justify violence. It rarely even justifies raised voices.

Merry Giftmas from this trail, and this moment. I wish you seasons greetings, and I hope you enjoy (and create) a pleasant holiday. If things start to slide sideways in some moment, I hope you maintain your perspective and regain the peace in your home. I hope you begin again, and let go of bullshit and resolve conflicts easily.

Merry Giftmas!

… And I hope Santa swings by and that you get a little something to remember this holiday fondly.

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